Audi's 2026 F1 Car Completes First Shakedown as McLaren Confirms Launch Date

The 2026 Formula 1 season has officially begun on track, with Audi's R26 completing its first shakedown at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The milestone marks the first public running of a car built for the new regulations, coinciding with McLaren confirming its championship defense will begin with a launch event in Bahrain on February 9.

Why it matters:

The first on-track appearance of a 2026 car signals the beginning of the next F1 era, with new power unit and aerodynamic regulations set to reshape the grid. Audi's early running shows its preparation is on track for its full factory entry, while McLaren's launch date officially kicks off the countdown to pre-season testing and the start of their title defense.

The details:

• Audi's R26 chassis ran for the first time under filming day regulations, which limit teams to a maximum of 200 kilometers. The car used special Pirelli demonstration tires, not the specific compounds developed for the 2026 season.
• The German manufacturer will officially launch its first-ever Formula 1 car on January 20 at an event in Berlin.
• McLaren, the reigning constructors' champions, will hold its livery launch on February 9 at the Bahrain International Circuit, the same venue as the season-opening race. The event will be broadcast live and feature drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
• In other team news, Ferrari has confirmed its 2026 challenger will be named the SF-26, continuing its traditional naming convention.

What's next:

The F1 world's attention now shifts to the official pre-season test, also in Barcelona, where teams will run their 2026 challengers with the correct Pirelli tires for the first time. Following Audi's launch in late January, the rest of the grid will unveil their new cars throughout February, leading up to the first race of the season and the true beginning of the new regulatory era.